Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria that have become resistant to many commonly used antibiotics. While it is a treatable infection, it is a significant public health issue.

S. aureus (commonly referred to as "staph") is a common type of bacteria that normally live on the skin or in the nasal passages of healthy people. Certain strains of the bacteria that resist the usual antibiotics given to fight staph infections are called MRSA.

An infection can occur when these get inside the body through a cut, sore, catheter or breathing tube. Such infections range from minor – such as a pimple – to serious, involving the heart, lungs, blood stream or bones.

A person who is already ill is at greater risk of getting a staph infection than a healthy person. This is particularly true of people who are sick enough to be admitted to a hospital.

At Cedars-Sinai, measures are in place throughout the medical center to prevent the spread of MRSA. These measures include:

Hand washing by doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers before entering and upon leaving a patient's room and before examining a patient

Encouraging visitors to patients to wash their hands frequently

Covering all wounds with clean bandages and preventing contact with soiled ones

Proper handling of personal items such as bedding, towels and other items to prevent the spread of infection

Proper cleaning of equipment or use of disposable items

How MRSA Infections Are Tracked At Cedars-Sinai

California hospitals are required to report these infections to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Reporting National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). The CDPH is required to risk adjust the data according to NHSN protocols. The risk adjustment methodology uses national data to compare the actual number of infections to the expected number, based on the age and health of the patients.

The ratio of observed to expected MRSA infections at Cedars-Sinai is lower than the national benchmark. A lower number is better.